Ice creeper



Nov. 2, 1965 P. MCNAKR 3,214,850

ICE CREEPER Filed Sept. 21, 1964 United States Patent 3,214,850 ICE CREEPER Eric P. McNair, Libertyville, Ill. Filed Sept. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 397,870 3 Claims. (Cl. 3662) This invention relates to improved ice cleats and particularly to ice cleats which are simply and economically constructed and yet which are readily adaptable for use with substantially all types of footwear.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier filed application Serial No. 288,164 filed June 17, 1963, now abandoned.

Although there is a recognized need for ice cleats in areas having severe winter weather, there has not been extensive use of such devices. Undoubtedly the reason for this is that known ice cleats have been considered to be necessarily complex in design so as to provide the required flexibility and also to provide firm securement of the cleat to the foot. The complexity of ice cleats is not only undesirable from the standpoint of economics, but it is also highly undesirable since the greater the complexity of design, the greater is the likelihood of malfunction due to fouling of parts with ice. Further, known ice cleats are not generally adapted for use with most types of footwear. Also, securing devices for known ice cleats have not been satisfactory since they are ordinarily quite time consuming in securement to and removal from the foot. Clearly, it would be highly desirable if the disadvantages of known ice cleats could be avoided while at the same time providing a simply and economically constructed device.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a simply and economically constructed ice cleat.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an ice cleat which is readily usable with substantially all types of footwear, including boots, galoshes, loafers, street shoes, spike heels, bedroom slippers, etc.

It is another object of this invention to provide an ice cleat having means for allowing quick and easy securement and removal of the cleat, while providing firm securement of the cleat to the foot, regardless of the particular size of the foot or footwear to which securement is made.

Further purposes and objects of this invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

A specific embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the ice cleat secured on a foot;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the ice cleat shown detached from a foot;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings, the ice cleat includes an elongated strip 12 which is adapted to be placed on the underside of footwear, as a shoe S. The strip 12 is constructed of a relatively springable or flexible material, and preferably metallic material such as cold rolled steel. The strip 12 is sufliciently flexible so that when the shoe S is flexed, the strip 12 will remain in substantial contact with the underside thereof. The strip 12 is provided with a plurality of downturned portions 14 and upturned portions 16. The downturned portions 14 are integral with the strip 12 and are bent so as to protrude downwardly therefrom, thereby providing means for gripping a slippery surface, such as ice.

"ice

The downturned gripping portions 14 are adapted to bite into an icy surface so as to provide traction, as the wearer Walks across the slippery surface. Generally, the downturned portions 14 are located at the heel portion 18 and at the front portion 20 of the strip 12 so that proper traction is provided both as initial contact is made between the heel and the icy surface and as final contact is made between the sole portion and the icy surface. Thus, the ice cleat 10 provides secure traction for the wearer at the two critical periods of each step, that is, as the foot is first placed heel first on an icy surface and also as the wearer pushes forward on the ball of the foot.

Of particular importance is the provision of the upstanding rear portion 22 at the end of the strip 12. The portion 22 abuts the rear side of the heel of the shoe S and prevents the strip 12, from slipping forward on the foot as initial contact is made between the heel portion 18 and the slippery surface. Another important feature is the provision of the downturned members or spikes 24 at the juncture 26 of the upstanding portion 22 with the major portion of the strip 12. The spikes 24 bite into the icy surface as soon as the corner of the heel strikes the slippery surface, this being the most likely time for a person to slip.

The upturned portions 16 of the strip 12 are adapted to engage the underside or sole of the shoe S, thereby substantially avoiding slippage between the cleat 10 and the shoe S. Preferably, the upturned portions 16 are adapted to engage the shoe S at both the heel portion and the sole portion. The upturned portions 16, as with the downturned portions 16 and 24, are integral with the strip 12 and are merely bent upwardly therefrom.

The strip 12 is also provided with a pair of longitudinal spaced slots 28 on the base portion thereof which are adapted to receive a strap 32, which is adapted to be positioned around a foot for tightly securing the strip 12 to the shoe S. Also, the longitudinal strips 30 extend downwardly from the strip 12, adjacent to the slots 28, so as to provide additional gripping contact between the cleat 10 and the icy surface.

An important feature of the cleat 10 is the provision of a second strap member 50 which more firmly secures the flexible strip 12 to the foot. The strap 50 passes through a pair of upright spaced slots 52 which are provided in the upstanding rear portion 22 of the flexible strip 12. The two end portions of the strap 50 are secured, as by sewing to the strap 32, as at 54, which is about intermediate the outer end of the strap 32 and the central portion of strap 32 which is engaged by the slots 28 in the flexible strip 12. By providing the second strap 50, increased securement i provided for maintaining the strip 12 upon the foot. The straps 32 and 50 combine to effectively bind the strip 12 on the foot since the substantially upright strap 32 passes across the top of the foot and substantially prevents up and down movement of the strip 12, while the crosswise strap 50 substantially prevents rearward and forward movement of the flexible strip 12 on the foot. It is important that such slippage be avoided in order that the user will obtain a high degree of traction when walking upon an icy surface.

Straps 32 and 35 are both preferably constructed of a' strong, highly flexible material, such as a cloth webbing or a woven fabric, although it may be constructed of any of a number of materials including leather and various plastic materials. The strap 32 is to be of a length which is suflicient to pass around the top of a foot but is not to be excessively long. The strap 50 is to be of such a length that when it passes around the rear of a foot it will be sufliciently tight around the top front of a foot when the strap 32 is also tightened thereon. It is important that the strap 50 is not excessively long so that both straps 32 and 50 are tightly secured on a foot.

It is an important feature of the invention that the means for attaching the ends of the strap 32 be of a highly adjustable nature, providing both ready securement and ready detachment. Although various fastening devices may be used, preferably, the fastening means includes a pile portion 34 and a hook portion 36, known as a Velcro fastener. This type of fastening means provides great adjustability since the strap 32 may be fastened to substantially the same amount of tightness, regardless of the size of foot to which securement is made. In this fastening device, securement can be made when any part of the pile portion 34 overlies any part of the hook portion 36. The portions 34 and 36 are secured to opposite ends of the strap 32 by any suitable means, whereby the strap 32 and thereby the strip 12 may be tightly secured to substantially any size foot.

From the above, it is seen that the described ice cleat accomplishes all of the aforementioned objects. An economically and simply constructed ice cleat is provided, while at the same time the cleat is readily usable with practically any size foot and almost any type of footwear. Also, since the ball of the foot remains in contact with a surface until a step is completed, it is necessary only that the elongated strip 12, in lengthwise position on the underside of footwear, be of a length sufficient to provide traction at the ball of the foot; thus, the strip 12 can be of a length sufficient to provide traction for a wearer with a relatively long foot and the same cleat may be used by a wearer with a relatively short foot since the strip 12 will not be so long that it will project beyond the front edge of a shoe. Furthermore, the cleat may be quickly and easily secured to and removed from the foot. The applicants construction is firmly secured on a foot by a pair of cooperating crosswise strap members 32 and 50 which securely bind the flexible strip 12 to the foot; the straps 32 and 50 effectively avoid both upward and downward movement of the strip 12 and forward and backward movement of the strip 12 on the foot.

While in the foregoing there has been a detailed description of one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that all equivalents obvious to those having skill in the art are included within the scope of the invention, as claimed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An ice creeper for attachment to footwear having sole and heel portions, said creeper comprising a continuous elongated one-piece flexible strip adapted to extend along the underside of both said sole and heel portions, and upstanding rear portion on said strip, means integral with said strip and projecting downwardly therefrom for gripping a slippery surface, said gripping means on said strip adapted to be co-extensive with parts of said sole and heel portions after attachment of said creeper to said footwear whereby said gripping means provide traction both as said footwear initially meets said slippery surface and as it separates therefrom, slot means in both said strip and in said upstanding rear portion to pro- Vide engagement with said strip, first and second strap members passing through said slot means thereby providing securement to said strip, both said straps passing around said footwear, means for securing said strap members together, and means at the opposite ends of one of said strap members for securing said ends together whereby said straps cooperate to maintain said strip in firm securement on said footwear.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said last mentioned securing means includes a pile portion and a hook portion, said pile and hook portions being readily adjustable with respect to each other whereby said strip may be secured to footwear regardless of the particular size thereof.

3. An ice creeper for attachment to footwear having sole and heel portions, said creeper comprising a con tinuous elongated one-piece flexible strip adopted to extend along the underside of both said sole and heel portions, an upstanding rear portion on said strip for abutting the backside of said heel portion, a first pair of slots in said strip, a second pair of slots in said upstanding portion, integral downturned portions located along said strip for gripping a slippery surface, said downturned portions being at the juncture of said strip and said upstanding portion and also adapted to be co-extensive with a part of said sole portion after attachment of said creeper to said footwear, upturned integral portions on said strip for engaging the underside of said footwear to avoid slippage between said strip and said footwear, a first strap passing through said first slots and passing around said footwear, a second strap passing through said second slot and passing around said footwear, said second strap being secured to said first strap, and means at the opposite ends of said first strap for securing said ends together whereby said straps cooperate to maintain said strip in firm securement on said footwear.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 977,272 11/ 10 Clishum 367.6 1,024,981 4/12 Findlay 3662 1,469,619 10/23 Byrd 367.6 1,837,730 12/31 Smith 367.6 2,076,260 4/37 Anshelm 3662 2,189,884 2/40 Dow 367.6 2,401,891 6/46 Smith 3662 2,437,143 3/ 48 With 3662 3,009,269 11/61 Folk 367.5

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

FRANK J. COHEN, Examiner. 

1. AN ICE CREEPER FOR ATTACHMENT TO FOOTWEAR HAVING SOLE AND HEEL PORTIONS, SAID CREEPER COMPRISING A CONTINUOUS ELONGATED ONE-PIECE FLEXIBLE STRIP ADAPTED TO EXTEND ALONG THE UNDERSIDE OF BOTH SAID SOLE AND HEEL PORTIONS, AND UPSTANDING REAR PORTION ON SAID STRIP, MEANS INTEGRAL WITH SAID STRIP AND PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM THE GRIPPING A SLIPPERY SURFACE, SAID GRIPPLING MEANS ON SAID STRIP ADAPTED TO BE CO-EXTENSIVE WITH PARTS OF SAID SOLE AND HEEL PORTIONS AFTER ATTACHMENT OF SAID CREEPER TO SAID FOOTWEAR WHEREBY SAID GRIPPING MEANS PROVIDE TRACTION BOTH AS SAID FOOTWEAR INITIALLY MEETS SAID SLIPPERY SURFACE ANS AS IT SEPRATES THEREFROM, SLOT MEANS IN BOTH SAID STRIP AND IN SAID UPSTANDING REAR PORTION TO PROVIDE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STRIP, FIRST AND SECOND STRAP MEMBERS PASSING THROUGH SAID SLOT MEANS THEREBY PROVIDING SECUREMENT TO SAID STRIP, BOTH SAID STRAPS PASSING AROUND SAID FOOTWEAR, MEASN FOR SECURING SAID STRIP MEMBER TOGETHER, AND MEANS AT THE OPPOSIE ENDS OF ONE OF SAID STRAP MEMBERS FOR SECURING SAID ENDS TOGETHER WHEREBY SAID STRAPS COOPERATE TO MAINTAIN SAID STRIP IN FIRM SECUREMENT ON SAID FOOTWEAR. 